“We’ve seen a lot of improvement in Kade over the last two years,” Moretz said.

She attributes the growth to Kade’s maturity and the district’s efforts with special needs students.

“Springfield is very accepting of students with disabilities, so they are very much involved with other students,” she said.

In a partnership with the Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board and the district, Kade and nine other students in Springfield schools work outside the school for a couple of hours a day.